Silesia S-4
Pierwsza Slaska Fabryka Samolotow · Poland · first flew 1925 · light aircraft
The Silesia S-4 was a Polish low-power parasol wing aircraft built in 1925. After an engine change and airframe modifications it became one of the Silesian Aeroclub's fleet.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Parasol wing of rectangular plan close above the fuselage, with a deep cut-out in the central trailing edge |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Parasol wing of rectangular plan close above the fuselage, with a deep cut-out in the central trailing edge
- Wing braced by a parallel pair of struts on each side and an unusual pyramid of long struts
- Tailplane on top of the fuselage with a fin carrying a short balanced rudder
A single-seat parasol monoplane with a one-piece wooden wing, a flat-sided rectangular-section fuselage and a fixed tailskid undercarriage with large mainwheels on a single axle.
Specifications
- The Silesia S-4 has a length of 4.6 m (15 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.4 m (28 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 120 km/h (75 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The brothers Edward, Paul and Wojciech Sopora set up the Pierwsza Slaska Fabryka Samolotow at Chorzow in 1923. The S-4 followed their 1923 S-3 and was a more refined parasol design. Its first flight, piloted by Klosek, was in June 1925.
Variants
It was first powered by a 22 kW (30 hp) Haacke HFM-2 flat twin. After criticism of its handling a 26 kW (35 hp) three-cylinder Anzani was fitted, the wing bracing was tidied and the rudder was modified.
Where you'll see it
It was much flown by members of the Silesian Pilots' Club, and was one of eight aircraft in the Silesian Aeroclub fleet when the club merged in 1930. It was destroyed in June 1931 when a club member made an unauthorised take-off and stalled fatally, and it was the last Silesia aircraft to fly.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 8,606 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.